During our Unsung Heroes month, my team and I had the opportunity to partner with some ministries that were amazing. In this post I’m going to tell you a little bit about 2 of them: Light for Asia and Hand to Hand Foundation.
Light for Asia
This ministry was started by a fellow southerner named Joseph York. He visited Pattaya a few times on mission trips with his local Atlanta church. It was on one of those trips that he met a woman named Sai that would eventually become his wife.
Right after being married, the couple lived in Thailand but moved to the United States to finalize marital paperwork. Five years and two kids later, the couple felt that the Lord was calling them back to Thailand for mission work. They became connected with a group in Pattaya that was handing out Chinese Bibles on the pier. This seemed like the organization to become involved with but shortly before they were to come to Thailand, the organization moved to Taiwan. So a decision had to be made whether to come to Thailand with no contacts or to go to Taiwan.
The York family
Ultimately they felt that the Lord was calling them to Thailand, so that is where they decided to move. Unbelievably, the organization that had moved to Taiwan got into contact with Joseph and told him that they had 150,000 Chinese translated New Testament Bibles that they would not be taking if he was interested, which of course he was! Upon he and Sai’s arrival, it turns out that there were more like 210,000 Bibles!! So that was plenty for them to get started with. Now every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30-9 pm a group gets together on the Pier in Pattaya and hands out Bibles to the many Chinese that walk by. It is not uncommon to hand out over 1,000 Bibles in one night.
Prayer Requests
- There is always a constant need for more Bibles, prayers for provision and trust in the Lord. 100% of money donated towards Bibles goes directly to the purchasing of Bibles.
- It has been a dream of Sai’s to start a restaurant. This January that will become a reality, so prayers as the last minute details are coming together for The Light House Cafe’s opening.
- Prayers for continued growth in the ministry and a constant pursuit of the Lord.
- Unity among the different ministries.
- Joseph, Sai, and family
- And finally a wonderful woman named Cindy who works closely with the ministry and has a heart for the people of Pattaya.
To find out more about the Bible distribution ministry and hear more about what this organization does go to lightforasia.com or look them up on Facebook.
Hand to Hand Foundation
This was a another wonderful ministry that my team and I were lucky enough to partner with. This foundation was started by an amazing lady named Margaret Grainger. And let me tell you, this woman is on fire for the Lord. She came to Pattaya over 13 years ago and taught at an International school. She was saved on the mission field and was prompted by the Lord to start Hand to Hand.
Hand to Hand Foundation is does many things. First they are a preschool for slum children. Over 40 children ages 2 to 6 are currently enrolled in the school. Classes are taught in both English and Thai and are only available to children who live in the slums. The school is free and provides food, education, clothing and medical needs for the students. Any schooling after this preschool is very expensive for local income families in Thailand. So the foundation has also set up a scholarship program to get these children in school and provide them with the best opportunity for success.
Hand to Hand also has a thriving prison ministry. Three times per week, two different prisons are visited to hand out food, water, and other supplies. Often, Cambodians, Burmese and Laotians are hired by construction companies in Thailand because they will work for very little pay. Unfortunately not all employers are honest; when it comes time to pay the hired workers, the employers will turn them into the police for being in the country without a work permit. They are arrested and deported back to their countries with only what they are wearing and they don’t receive any of the money that they have worked so hard to earn. Often children can be found in the prisons along with their parents. So Hand to Hand provides them with milk, medication, diapers and special treats.
Prayer Requests
- Sponsors for all of the children in the preschool.
- More school supplies for students.
- Continued favor with the prison guards in getting into the prisons to evangelize and provide for physical needs.
- Growth within the ministry.
- Prayers for slum ministry, hospital ministry and a baby home.
- Strength for Margaret and that she would find increased JOY and REST in the Lord.
To find out more about the preschool or the prison ministry and hear more about what this organization does go to handtohandpattaya.com.
These are just two of the lovely ministries that my team and I had the opportunity to partner with! Please continue to be in prayer for them as they are lights in a very dark city in the world!
